Benchmark: timing 50000 iterations of hybrid, join, slash... hybrid: 4 secs ( 2.90 usr 0.38 sys = 3.28 cpu) join: 6 secs ( 5.65 usr 0.35 sys = 6.00 cpu) slash: 3 secs ( 1.95 usr 0.38 sys = 2.33 cpu)